A friend and I have had a number of discussions recently about which point of view (POV) is preferred when writing. Of course there are a number of answers to this question and I believe it boils down to your writing style. During these discussions we talked about the advantages and disadvantages of writing in the first person as well as the third person. These discussions brought many thoughts and ideas to mind about writing. As I pondered on all that was said a question came to the forefront. Can a writer develop a writing style based on a POV from blogging?
That’s crazy; writing on your blog is for fun and its more like writing articles for a magazine then a novel. Besides, everyone write in the first person. Is that true? Are the fundamentals for writing articles for a blog really that different from writing a short story or even a novel? Do we really only write in the first person? I have not researched this topic as I feel it is based on the opinion of the writer; however, I believe there are important aspects of writing a blog that translates to an author's writing style. I also think a blog presents a very helpful opportunity to all of us. Like what for example? I'm glad you asked.
In my opinion, the POV we write with the most in our day to day blog is the POV we are the most comfortable with when writing our novels. That is a general statement of course but I encourage you too test this theory by reading one of your blog entries and then read part of your current project. Do you see any similarities in the two? If you are writing your novel in a different POV then your blog which was easier to write or did you feel more comfortable writing?
I think we can all agree that writing an article for our blog is easier then writing a portion of our novel; however, for this exercise we need to focus on the POV used. How smooth did the writing flow in your novel as compared to your blog?
I believe it is true that many of us write in the first person POV when it comes to blogging. For example, I am writing this article in the first person. It is easy to write in the first person on a blog. I suspect it is a little more comfortable to write in the first person for our novels as well. This is where the opportunity of a blog presents itself. Our blogs are so much more then that. This is our canvas, our chalk board to practice what and how we want too write. If you wanted to write a novel in the third person but seem to be having trouble with it your blog is the perfect place to practice. Pick your topic and write it in the third person or second person or whichever POV you want. At the end ask your readers about it. Their comments will be of great value.
Remember the advice of write every day? Well, writing for a blog counts in that it allows you to change your style in a practical way. By switching POV's from time to time we will become more comfortable with those POV's. We can also explore the inner workings of those POV's. The great benefit is that we have readers who can help along the way with their comments.
I am not sure if I have actually pulled this off but I have attempted the third person (kind of) when I write articles and substitute 'I' for the 'New Author'. Surprisingly enough, my first novel is in third person and I sometimes feel disconnected from it. Would that feeling be different if I were writing it in first person as I do the majority of these articles? I am not sure but I am excited to announce that my second novel will be in first person. I plan to share that journey and see just how much of a benefit the New Author has been for the development of my writing style.
To answer the beginning question, I believe a blog can help you develop a writing style geared for a POV. I also think a blog is a great place to get comfortable with multiple POV's. What do you think? Has your blog been a help developing your writing style with a POV in mind?
WELCOME
Apr 30, 2009
Apr 29, 2009
Blogger Awards
It is always an honor and a joy to receive awards from peers in the blogosphere. Recently the New Author received two awards. The first was the Lemonade Stand award from Rebecca over at From Brain 2 Bookshelf.Although I do not have the badge to display I wanted to mention this award. I discovered that The Lemonade Stand Award is presented to people with a good attitude or sense of gratitude. I can honestly say that all of you in the New Author community make it very easy to have a good and/or positive attitude.
The badge I am displaying here is the "Noblesse Oblige" award given to the New Author by the Prodigal Tourist over at a Prodigal Tourist. The "Noblesse Oblige" award is given to those
recognized for the following: My comments in parenthesis.
1) The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs. (wow, this is a big one!)
2) The Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage and offers solutions. (I hope I inspire and encourage. That is what the New Author is here for.)
3) There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economic, the Arts, Culture and Sciences and Beliefs. (Maybe not all of them)
4) The Blog is refreshing and creative. (You tell me...I try to keep it refreshing and creative.)
5) The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking. (We are a community here.)
The rules state that I am to hand out these awards to others. However, I seem to be late to the party in handing these out as many of you already have one if not both of them. With that said, I will hand out the "Noblesse Oblige" award but I do not have the badge to hand out the Lemonade Stand Award.
For the "Noblesse Oblige" award:
Small Footprints at Reduce Footprints
Bernard Rossi at Bernard Rossi
How do you feel about receiving and giving blog awards?
Apr 27, 2009
A Different Side To The New Author
On Friday I mentioned the idea of having a workshop here on the New Author. I also mentioned that Bernard Rossi, a published author and poet, would be the lead instructor for the workshop. My thought is too have many workshops throughout the year. This first workshop will be for poetry. Our idea is too post a picture and have the participants write a poem about that picture. Afterward we will look at the poems with a focus on the mechanics, structure, and word selection for the individual poems. I believe this exercise will be very helpful as it will highlight the importance of word selection and structure. I have already received some interest in the workshop but I thought I would mention it again in case anyone missed Friday's article. If this workshop sounds interesting to you let me know.
Today we are going to have a look at a different side to the New Author. A few weeks back my friend over at Reduce Footprints invited me to prepare an article for the site. What a minute though, that site is about the environment and recycling and protecting our planet. What do you know about any of these things that you can write an article about it? Well, that is the different side that can be seen today.
We are, as Small Footprints would say, going too take a field trip. You can read my guest article here.
I hope you enjoy the article.
Today we are going to have a look at a different side to the New Author. A few weeks back my friend over at Reduce Footprints invited me to prepare an article for the site. What a minute though, that site is about the environment and recycling and protecting our planet. What do you know about any of these things that you can write an article about it? Well, that is the different side that can be seen today.
We are, as Small Footprints would say, going too take a field trip. You can read my guest article here.
I hope you enjoy the article.
Apr 24, 2009
Week End Review
We have arrived at the end of another week. A week that saw snow in the West Virginia mountains one day and people running around in shorts the next. It has been a busy and productive week here at the New Author. We looked at some interesting topics. Did you miss any of the articles? If you did then this is your lucky day. Here is the week end review.
Before I get to the review; however, I have an announcement too make. For the past few days I have been talking with Bernard about conducting a workshop either on his website or here at the New Author. Bernard is a published author and a poet. The purpose of this workshop would be to focus on the mechanics of writing poetry. How would we do this? We would start by posting a picture on the site and the participants would then write a poem about that picture. From there we would look at the poems and study the mechanics of them. I believe this will be a fun workshop and will teach valuable lessons about the craft of writing. There will be more about this in the coming weeks as we work out the details. Are you interested in a workshop of this type? We are gauging the interest of everyone so we have an idea of the possible number of participants.
Now that the announcement is done we can move on to the review.
You have to add to fill those gaps was Mondays look into the topic of manuscript revision. We learned that we don't necessarily need to remove words, sentences and/or paragraphs in order to accomplish a productive revision on our first draft. I believe this is a great opportunity to flesh out those ideas and thoughts that could be left in limbo. The comments are very interesting for this article and shed light on some other points.
The magical path to done was inspired by one of the comments from Monday's article. The comment really got me thinking about when a manuscript is actually, truly done. We learned that there are many levels of done when it comes to a manuscript but in the end we find out that your novel is truly done when it is on a book shelf.
The story with back-story was the topic for Thursday. This article dove into the depths of the back-story pond. This was an interesting article too think about because it goes against the grain of conventional wisdom. We did learn that there is both a time and place for back-story in a manuscript. As authors it is our job to find that time and place.
It is now time too close out the week here at the New Author. With that said I will leave you with something to think about. At times we all get frustrated with our characters or the way our story is unfolding. How do you handle that frustration?
Have a safe weekend and happy writing.
Before I get to the review; however, I have an announcement too make. For the past few days I have been talking with Bernard about conducting a workshop either on his website or here at the New Author. Bernard is a published author and a poet. The purpose of this workshop would be to focus on the mechanics of writing poetry. How would we do this? We would start by posting a picture on the site and the participants would then write a poem about that picture. From there we would look at the poems and study the mechanics of them. I believe this will be a fun workshop and will teach valuable lessons about the craft of writing. There will be more about this in the coming weeks as we work out the details. Are you interested in a workshop of this type? We are gauging the interest of everyone so we have an idea of the possible number of participants.
Now that the announcement is done we can move on to the review.
You have to add to fill those gaps was Mondays look into the topic of manuscript revision. We learned that we don't necessarily need to remove words, sentences and/or paragraphs in order to accomplish a productive revision on our first draft. I believe this is a great opportunity to flesh out those ideas and thoughts that could be left in limbo. The comments are very interesting for this article and shed light on some other points.
The magical path to done was inspired by one of the comments from Monday's article. The comment really got me thinking about when a manuscript is actually, truly done. We learned that there are many levels of done when it comes to a manuscript but in the end we find out that your novel is truly done when it is on a book shelf.
The story with back-story was the topic for Thursday. This article dove into the depths of the back-story pond. This was an interesting article too think about because it goes against the grain of conventional wisdom. We did learn that there is both a time and place for back-story in a manuscript. As authors it is our job to find that time and place.
It is now time too close out the week here at the New Author. With that said I will leave you with something to think about. At times we all get frustrated with our characters or the way our story is unfolding. How do you handle that frustration?
Have a safe weekend and happy writing.
Apr 23, 2009
The Story With Back-Story
How many times have you heard or read that back-story is not really good for your manuscript and should be limited or completely removed? I bet it is a lot. The topic of today's article is not about the idea of back-story or what back-story is. Today we take a look at the question; is back-story really that bad for our manuscript.
In my opinion, we all know and understand what back-story is and how to identify it. Take for example the first draft of your manuscript. You have it completed and there it sits on the table or in a drawer cooling off. After the cooling off period expires you eagerly pull it out and start your first revision. You move with break neck speed through the pages as you write and cross out sentences. An hour or so passes and you stop to review your progress and realize that the first four or five chapters have been deleted because they were nothing more then back-story. As you sit there, staring at that stack of discarded ideas, another thought dances into your mind. What am I going to do with all this back-story?
Sure, you could just delete it and move on but is that the best approach too take? Typically at this point we would look at the common advice given to do just that. However, there may be a different solution. Within those four or five chapters is some really good writing and story telling. They should have a fair chance to be read right along with the rest of the story. So what do we do with the back-story?
I believe that it is true that back-story should be limited in length but perhaps not in the overall scope of the story. If we were to take the back-story and break it into pieces and distribute it throughout the story then it may lend to the story. It can be a tool to provide clarity or help build an emotion or add to the action. Back-story can be an important asset if used in the right way.
How is that? Take for example a story about a married couple. As we start the book we write about how they met, the first kiss, things they did together and topics like that until we reach the wedding. Shortly after the wedding problems begin and we see the relationship breaking down until finally the two go their separate way. In this example the story actual starts at the wedding. The hook can be found in this section as well. That would make the first part of this story back-story which you would delete during your first revision. Now, let's look at the story again with the back-story distributed throughout.
The story opens with a joyous wedding ceremony. Everyone is happy and thrilled but shortly after trouble strikes. The marriage starts to break down under the stress of the trouble. As everything falls apart the husband thinks back to the time they met and wonders how things went wrong. The wife fondly remembers the first kiss from a man who is now distant and cold.
As they part ways each are left with the memories of the things they once did together.
I think that if we keep the back-story to a few sentences in length and write it at the right time it can be a very useful part of the story. The above may not be the best example but I hope it was enough for you to see the effect of back-story to your manuscript once it is distributed properly.
Is back-story really that bad? Should it be banished from our manuscripts? I don't think it should be completely removed. I think it should be distributed and used in a way that will enhance the story. However, if the back-story will not or does not enhance the story then it should be removed. What do you do with the back-story in your manuscript?
In my opinion, we all know and understand what back-story is and how to identify it. Take for example the first draft of your manuscript. You have it completed and there it sits on the table or in a drawer cooling off. After the cooling off period expires you eagerly pull it out and start your first revision. You move with break neck speed through the pages as you write and cross out sentences. An hour or so passes and you stop to review your progress and realize that the first four or five chapters have been deleted because they were nothing more then back-story. As you sit there, staring at that stack of discarded ideas, another thought dances into your mind. What am I going to do with all this back-story?
Sure, you could just delete it and move on but is that the best approach too take? Typically at this point we would look at the common advice given to do just that. However, there may be a different solution. Within those four or five chapters is some really good writing and story telling. They should have a fair chance to be read right along with the rest of the story. So what do we do with the back-story?
I believe that it is true that back-story should be limited in length but perhaps not in the overall scope of the story. If we were to take the back-story and break it into pieces and distribute it throughout the story then it may lend to the story. It can be a tool to provide clarity or help build an emotion or add to the action. Back-story can be an important asset if used in the right way.
How is that? Take for example a story about a married couple. As we start the book we write about how they met, the first kiss, things they did together and topics like that until we reach the wedding. Shortly after the wedding problems begin and we see the relationship breaking down until finally the two go their separate way. In this example the story actual starts at the wedding. The hook can be found in this section as well. That would make the first part of this story back-story which you would delete during your first revision. Now, let's look at the story again with the back-story distributed throughout.
The story opens with a joyous wedding ceremony. Everyone is happy and thrilled but shortly after trouble strikes. The marriage starts to break down under the stress of the trouble. As everything falls apart the husband thinks back to the time they met and wonders how things went wrong. The wife fondly remembers the first kiss from a man who is now distant and cold.
As they part ways each are left with the memories of the things they once did together.
I think that if we keep the back-story to a few sentences in length and write it at the right time it can be a very useful part of the story. The above may not be the best example but I hope it was enough for you to see the effect of back-story to your manuscript once it is distributed properly.
Is back-story really that bad? Should it be banished from our manuscripts? I don't think it should be completely removed. I think it should be distributed and used in a way that will enhance the story. However, if the back-story will not or does not enhance the story then it should be removed. What do you do with the back-story in your manuscript?
Apr 21, 2009
The Magical Path to Done
Yesterday's article brought about some interesting comments. One of which I have included in this article. The comment from Kathryn Magendie said...
Our manuscripts are alive! They are pulsing and changing and morphing - up until we finally say "It is Done" and send it out to the world to find an agent or a publisher...and even then, it will be revisited later....
So this alive document, this beauty of words and truths and imagination allows for transformation!
There are so many little tidbits in Kathryn's comment for us too sink our teeth into it begged to be included in this article. Take for instance the idea that our manuscripts are alive. They are ever changing and morphing and pulsing with our energy and passion. In such a short comment she described why we love to write. Our manuscript is an extension of ourselves. I agree with her that indeed our manuscripts change each time we read and/or revise them. How else can we explain the fact that our characters often travel down a path we never imagined?
Another tidbit in this comment is the word 'transformation.' This is an important word to remember. Often times our manuscript begins as a jumble of ideas and paragraphs but as we refine the story and revise the structure our story transforms into a work of art. Our writing is the perfect example of the ugly duckling changing into a beautiful swan. This is encouraging and inspiring news. If you find yourself despondent because your manuscript is a mess keep working at it until it is a polished gem.
As insightful as these little tidbits are, there is one portion of this comment that really got me thinking - 'up until we finally say "It is Done".' When is our manuscript done? At what point in time do we say "okay, I am finished" and cut the computer off? I have proclaimed the first draft as done but as of yet I have not made it to the point of proclaiming a manuscript done. How do you know? I am aware that the answer to this question is the opinion of the writer; however, I believe that many of us have asked this question before.
So, how do we know when our manuscript is done and ready for the world? Is it when all the story lines are completed and the main conflict is wrapped up? How about when we look at it and read it with admiration in our eye and warmth in our heart? I think it is a combination of both. I already have warmth in my heart as I revise my manuscript but I know that there are loose ends that need to be addressed. In my opinion, your heart (or gut) will tell you when the manuscript is done. However, I have never been in a situation to call a manuscript done and ready. I really look forward to the day that you and I can say - "it is done now bring on the agents!"
Until your manuscript is done keep those magical words flowing and enjoy the ride of this ever changing and morphing collection of thoughts and ideas expressed in words. Now it is your turn. When do you proclaim a manuscript done?
I thank Kathryn for her thought provoking comment.
Our manuscripts are alive! They are pulsing and changing and morphing - up until we finally say "It is Done" and send it out to the world to find an agent or a publisher...and even then, it will be revisited later....
So this alive document, this beauty of words and truths and imagination allows for transformation!
There are so many little tidbits in Kathryn's comment for us too sink our teeth into it begged to be included in this article. Take for instance the idea that our manuscripts are alive. They are ever changing and morphing and pulsing with our energy and passion. In such a short comment she described why we love to write. Our manuscript is an extension of ourselves. I agree with her that indeed our manuscripts change each time we read and/or revise them. How else can we explain the fact that our characters often travel down a path we never imagined?
Another tidbit in this comment is the word 'transformation.' This is an important word to remember. Often times our manuscript begins as a jumble of ideas and paragraphs but as we refine the story and revise the structure our story transforms into a work of art. Our writing is the perfect example of the ugly duckling changing into a beautiful swan. This is encouraging and inspiring news. If you find yourself despondent because your manuscript is a mess keep working at it until it is a polished gem.
As insightful as these little tidbits are, there is one portion of this comment that really got me thinking - 'up until we finally say "It is Done".' When is our manuscript done? At what point in time do we say "okay, I am finished" and cut the computer off? I have proclaimed the first draft as done but as of yet I have not made it to the point of proclaiming a manuscript done. How do you know? I am aware that the answer to this question is the opinion of the writer; however, I believe that many of us have asked this question before.
So, how do we know when our manuscript is done and ready for the world? Is it when all the story lines are completed and the main conflict is wrapped up? How about when we look at it and read it with admiration in our eye and warmth in our heart? I think it is a combination of both. I already have warmth in my heart as I revise my manuscript but I know that there are loose ends that need to be addressed. In my opinion, your heart (or gut) will tell you when the manuscript is done. However, I have never been in a situation to call a manuscript done and ready. I really look forward to the day that you and I can say - "it is done now bring on the agents!"
Until your manuscript is done keep those magical words flowing and enjoy the ride of this ever changing and morphing collection of thoughts and ideas expressed in words. Now it is your turn. When do you proclaim a manuscript done?
I thank Kathryn for her thought provoking comment.
Apr 20, 2009
You Have to Add to Fill Those Gaps
This has been a tough and busy Monday. Why so tough? Well, I guess you could call it a hang over from the contest. It will be alright though, in a few days we will be back in the routine of interesting articles and thought provoking comments.
Before I get to today's topic I would like to share with you that Eric, a member of the New Author community, has posted a review of the book "Evensong" on his site. You may remember this book as I posted my review of it here a few weeks back along with an interview with the author. If you would like to read another point of view about this really good book you can follow the link here.
Also, I have scheduled another interview for the next New Author interview. I have submitted my questions to author Jay Miller and will post them as soon as I receive his responses. Jay is the author of children's books. He currently has three books out and they are all delightful. My son enjoyed them so that says it all. I am also writing book reviews for these books which I plan to post as well. You may have noticed that the New Author is expanding and this, in my opinion, is not a bad thing. However, I would like to know your opinions as well. Do you find the interviews informative and entertaining? How about the book reviews? I find the book reviews very helpful because if you can write a thorough review then you are on the way to writing a synopsis. Okay, I think I covered all the announcements for now so on to the article.
Have you or are you in the process of editing or revising a manuscript? Have you discovered how much you learn about your own writing while participating in this exercise? We have discussed revising a manuscript a number of times in the past; however, I noticed a new twist this weekend that I wanted to share with you and get your thoughts on.
When someone mentions revising or editing a manuscript we mostly hear how they are cutting out the back-story and trimming the fat until they get to the meat of the story. From there we hear about correcting the grammatical mistakes and changing the structure in a few places. These, I believe, have become the standard items we complete when revising a manuscript. My question today is this; what if the opposite happens? What if you are adding instead of removing? Is that still revising and editing?
This came to mind over the weekend while I was revising my manuscript. You see, I cut out the back-story and moved on to editing the rest. As I was editing I noticed that I was adding much more writing to the manuscript then I was actually removing the unnecessary words. This realization caused me to pause and actually think if I was still writing the first draft or revising it. I believe the answer to this question will be based on opinion but it is a thought I had. In actuality it is a revision and a very important one at that. After I completed about five or six chapters in this manner I went back and read them with my notes included. What did I discover? I found out that my notes improved the flow of the story and finished the development of the ideas within those chapters that otherwise would have been incomplete. In short, by adding to the existing writing I filled some of the holes that were there before I began my revision.
It is important to cut out the back-story and the fluff in your manuscript when you are editing and revising it; however, don't be scared to add to your writing. If you find a section that does not flow smoothly or seems incomplete build on it until it is. It may be common practice to remove and cut out things from your manuscript but it is important to remember that a revision can include building on your ideas.
Have you ever found yourself adding more to a manuscript then removing while editing? What was the end result?
Before I get to today's topic I would like to share with you that Eric, a member of the New Author community, has posted a review of the book "Evensong" on his site. You may remember this book as I posted my review of it here a few weeks back along with an interview with the author. If you would like to read another point of view about this really good book you can follow the link here.
Also, I have scheduled another interview for the next New Author interview. I have submitted my questions to author Jay Miller and will post them as soon as I receive his responses. Jay is the author of children's books. He currently has three books out and they are all delightful. My son enjoyed them so that says it all. I am also writing book reviews for these books which I plan to post as well. You may have noticed that the New Author is expanding and this, in my opinion, is not a bad thing. However, I would like to know your opinions as well. Do you find the interviews informative and entertaining? How about the book reviews? I find the book reviews very helpful because if you can write a thorough review then you are on the way to writing a synopsis. Okay, I think I covered all the announcements for now so on to the article.
Have you or are you in the process of editing or revising a manuscript? Have you discovered how much you learn about your own writing while participating in this exercise? We have discussed revising a manuscript a number of times in the past; however, I noticed a new twist this weekend that I wanted to share with you and get your thoughts on.
When someone mentions revising or editing a manuscript we mostly hear how they are cutting out the back-story and trimming the fat until they get to the meat of the story. From there we hear about correcting the grammatical mistakes and changing the structure in a few places. These, I believe, have become the standard items we complete when revising a manuscript. My question today is this; what if the opposite happens? What if you are adding instead of removing? Is that still revising and editing?
This came to mind over the weekend while I was revising my manuscript. You see, I cut out the back-story and moved on to editing the rest. As I was editing I noticed that I was adding much more writing to the manuscript then I was actually removing the unnecessary words. This realization caused me to pause and actually think if I was still writing the first draft or revising it. I believe the answer to this question will be based on opinion but it is a thought I had. In actuality it is a revision and a very important one at that. After I completed about five or six chapters in this manner I went back and read them with my notes included. What did I discover? I found out that my notes improved the flow of the story and finished the development of the ideas within those chapters that otherwise would have been incomplete. In short, by adding to the existing writing I filled some of the holes that were there before I began my revision.
It is important to cut out the back-story and the fluff in your manuscript when you are editing and revising it; however, don't be scared to add to your writing. If you find a section that does not flow smoothly or seems incomplete build on it until it is. It may be common practice to remove and cut out things from your manuscript but it is important to remember that a revision can include building on your ideas.
Have you ever found yourself adding more to a manuscript then removing while editing? What was the end result?
Apr 17, 2009
And The Winner Is...
Today is the day we have been waiting for. The votes have been cast and counted and we have the winners of the first annual New Author Writing Contest. Before I announce the winners I would like to share with you some of the comments I received from the judges in regards to the short stories and poems.
"both seem to leave me thinking about what else was happening ... the rest of the story. I wanted more ... and that's part of what keeps me coming back to certain authors."
"In today's world a lot of writing passes as poetry and rightly so, but I do think there is a place for tradition in poetry which is often forgotten. What I am looking for is something that grabs me, makes me think, puts me where the author is or where they want me to be, that gets better when I read it a second time, that has rhythm and this I think is crucial to good poem and if it can then it should pay heed to tradition. I am looking for the poet's heart and soul to appear in the words, and not through words that describe their day or their life but by words that are so close to the topic that they take me there."
"In this category I was looking for a story that hooked me, got me in from the start but more importantly I wanted to see good, imaginative writing. The writing needed to be correct with no spelling or grammatical errors but it also needed to be interesting writing and to show the character and style of the author as well as tell a very good story."
"This poem captured the essence of what it means to watch youth dissolve into old age."
"I love the title of this one and immediately wanted to read it. There is good foreshadowing, sense of pace and humor with lots going on." "This poem had a poignant quality - and a touch more sophistication than the others. I admit that I tend to not like rhyming poetry; it's a subjective thing. This one had a touch of fun and whimsy to it as well."
"This story had some lush writing to it. It was a "Poe-ish" kind of story - not exceptionally unique in it's ending or theme, but, the writing was really quite good.... I hope this writer will continue to keep it up, keep writing more!"
"The poem I chose as the best had quite a few qualities that I really admired. It was forceful and had impact without being over dramatic or too lengthy. The visuals described were easy to see in my mind, and the subject matter was something everyone could relate to."
"It had a story I could follow, it had characters I could see in my mind, and the cultural aspects of the people described came through clearly. There is one thing I would caution the author on however. The vocalizations (and thoughts) of the main character seemed very stilted, as if the person was speaking a language they were not really familiar with. The best comparison I can give is the way Hollywood has historically portrayed American Indians, who try to speak English haltingly at best. The problem is that the main character should have been able to describe his own thoughts better, since language within his own mind wouldn't be a barrier. It just felt like the author was trying to describe the culture of the character through his words, rather than letting the culture come through in some other manner."
As you can see, the judge's comments varied but we can learn from each of them. As I stated before, the judges had a difficult time voting for the winners. I applaud and congratulate all of you who entered the contest. All of the finalists deserve to be congratulated for submitting some wonderful pieces. We do indeed have many talented individuals here in the New Author community. Now without further delay I will announce the winners.
The best Short Story Award goes to........TEN DAYS by J. THORN.
The best Poetry Award goes to................CHANGES by ANDREW MORTON.
Please join me in congratulating these two winners for their fine pieces of work.
I must say that this contest, in my opinion, has been a great success. Next year I plan to hold this contest again and look forward to all the entries. Did you enjoy the contest?
Have a good weekend and happy writing!
"both seem to leave me thinking about what else was happening ... the rest of the story. I wanted more ... and that's part of what keeps me coming back to certain authors."
"In today's world a lot of writing passes as poetry and rightly so, but I do think there is a place for tradition in poetry which is often forgotten. What I am looking for is something that grabs me, makes me think, puts me where the author is or where they want me to be, that gets better when I read it a second time, that has rhythm and this I think is crucial to good poem and if it can then it should pay heed to tradition. I am looking for the poet's heart and soul to appear in the words, and not through words that describe their day or their life but by words that are so close to the topic that they take me there."
"In this category I was looking for a story that hooked me, got me in from the start but more importantly I wanted to see good, imaginative writing. The writing needed to be correct with no spelling or grammatical errors but it also needed to be interesting writing and to show the character and style of the author as well as tell a very good story."
"This poem captured the essence of what it means to watch youth dissolve into old age."
"I love the title of this one and immediately wanted to read it. There is good foreshadowing, sense of pace and humor with lots going on." "This poem had a poignant quality - and a touch more sophistication than the others. I admit that I tend to not like rhyming poetry; it's a subjective thing. This one had a touch of fun and whimsy to it as well."
"This story had some lush writing to it. It was a "Poe-ish" kind of story - not exceptionally unique in it's ending or theme, but, the writing was really quite good.... I hope this writer will continue to keep it up, keep writing more!"
"The poem I chose as the best had quite a few qualities that I really admired. It was forceful and had impact without being over dramatic or too lengthy. The visuals described were easy to see in my mind, and the subject matter was something everyone could relate to."
"It had a story I could follow, it had characters I could see in my mind, and the cultural aspects of the people described came through clearly. There is one thing I would caution the author on however. The vocalizations (and thoughts) of the main character seemed very stilted, as if the person was speaking a language they were not really familiar with. The best comparison I can give is the way Hollywood has historically portrayed American Indians, who try to speak English haltingly at best. The problem is that the main character should have been able to describe his own thoughts better, since language within his own mind wouldn't be a barrier. It just felt like the author was trying to describe the culture of the character through his words, rather than letting the culture come through in some other manner."
As you can see, the judge's comments varied but we can learn from each of them. As I stated before, the judges had a difficult time voting for the winners. I applaud and congratulate all of you who entered the contest. All of the finalists deserve to be congratulated for submitting some wonderful pieces. We do indeed have many talented individuals here in the New Author community. Now without further delay I will announce the winners.
The best Short Story Award goes to........TEN DAYS by J. THORN.
The best Poetry Award goes to................CHANGES by ANDREW MORTON.
Please join me in congratulating these two winners for their fine pieces of work.
I must say that this contest, in my opinion, has been a great success. Next year I plan to hold this contest again and look forward to all the entries. Did you enjoy the contest?
Have a good weekend and happy writing!
Apr 16, 2009
More Lessons From The Contest
As if we did not have enough excitement and drama with the New Author Writing contest I come to you with more. I can report to all of you that the majority of the judges have cast their votes. This is not the added excitement and drama; however, after counting the votes I can also add to this that we have a tie in the poetry category. The last judge will determine the winner in this category. I can almost feel the pressure building. Who will win? We will know....tomorrow.
Many of the finalists have asked if they could see what the judges wrote about their poems and/or stories. They also asked about what the judges were looking for while determining who too vote for. In answering them I believe we can all learn something. With that said, I will include some of the comments left by the judges in tomorrow’s article. That will give you a little insight as to what they were thinking and feeling while voting. I too have wondered what the judges were looking for and therefore I went back through their e-mails for some hint. Let’s have a look at what I found out.
Poetry is different from short stories in more ways then the structure of it. When reading the judges comments about the poems certain words stood out to me. These words, in my opinion, shine a light on writing that I feel can be useful to all of us. Words such as - essence, inventive, sophisticated were used in the description of what they were looking for or what they found. In the end though the judges were looking for the author's heart and soul in the words. This is very important. This is an example of what great writing exhibits. Readers want to feel what you feel. They want to see your heart and soul (your passion) in your writing presented to them in an inventive and sophisticated way. In my opinion, we all know this; however, we are still striving to get the essence of the story and our passion for writing on the pages. Can poetry help us with writing a manuscript? Absolutely; poetry is raw emotion in words within a predefined structure. Poetry is elegant even when dealing with a brutal topic. Granted we probably should not write rhyming words in our manuscript but if we were able to insert that raw emotion and passion we find in poetry into our manuscript the potential of that story would be limitless. Have you ever attempted to write a poem? Give it a try a couple of times and see what affect it has on your writing style and/or the flow of your sentences.
What about the short stories? This was a little clearer cut then the poetry. This contest, with the judges, was the perfect example of the importance of a hook and a strong title. For example, a strong title drew a judge to one of the short stories. A strong title will literally pull a reader to your story. The importance of a hook cannot be understated in this. Many of the judges were looking for a hook. They wanted that one sentence or paragraph to pull them in. Did you find a hook in the short stories? Did it make you want to read more?
I think the most surprising thing I found within the judges comments was about the writing. It was pointed out that even though the plot and storyline was not unique in some of the stories the writing was done so well that it made up for those two. That is the power of writing. When you can take a routine topic and present it in a way that makes people want to read it even if they know about it.
What lessons did you learn from the contest?
Many of the finalists have asked if they could see what the judges wrote about their poems and/or stories. They also asked about what the judges were looking for while determining who too vote for. In answering them I believe we can all learn something. With that said, I will include some of the comments left by the judges in tomorrow’s article. That will give you a little insight as to what they were thinking and feeling while voting. I too have wondered what the judges were looking for and therefore I went back through their e-mails for some hint. Let’s have a look at what I found out.
Poetry is different from short stories in more ways then the structure of it. When reading the judges comments about the poems certain words stood out to me. These words, in my opinion, shine a light on writing that I feel can be useful to all of us. Words such as - essence, inventive, sophisticated were used in the description of what they were looking for or what they found. In the end though the judges were looking for the author's heart and soul in the words. This is very important. This is an example of what great writing exhibits. Readers want to feel what you feel. They want to see your heart and soul (your passion) in your writing presented to them in an inventive and sophisticated way. In my opinion, we all know this; however, we are still striving to get the essence of the story and our passion for writing on the pages. Can poetry help us with writing a manuscript? Absolutely; poetry is raw emotion in words within a predefined structure. Poetry is elegant even when dealing with a brutal topic. Granted we probably should not write rhyming words in our manuscript but if we were able to insert that raw emotion and passion we find in poetry into our manuscript the potential of that story would be limitless. Have you ever attempted to write a poem? Give it a try a couple of times and see what affect it has on your writing style and/or the flow of your sentences.
What about the short stories? This was a little clearer cut then the poetry. This contest, with the judges, was the perfect example of the importance of a hook and a strong title. For example, a strong title drew a judge to one of the short stories. A strong title will literally pull a reader to your story. The importance of a hook cannot be understated in this. Many of the judges were looking for a hook. They wanted that one sentence or paragraph to pull them in. Did you find a hook in the short stories? Did it make you want to read more?
I think the most surprising thing I found within the judges comments was about the writing. It was pointed out that even though the plot and storyline was not unique in some of the stories the writing was done so well that it made up for those two. That is the power of writing. When you can take a routine topic and present it in a way that makes people want to read it even if they know about it.
What lessons did you learn from the contest?
Apr 14, 2009
Lessons Learned - Structure
Things are getting so exciting here at the New Author. How many of you are wondering about the contest? I have heard back from some of the judges but not all. The judges I have heard from had one common comment between them; "this is not an easy decision." That's right, the poems and short stories are proving to be a tough challenge for the judges. I think the finalist deserve credit just for that. I, like all of you, am very happy with the outcome this contest is having with the implementation of the judges. Why do I enjoy it so much? Well, as I get the votes from the judges they include a write up including what they were looking for and how they determined who to vote for. This is valuable information that we can learn from.
As you may have guessed, I plan to tie in the contest with the articles this week. This is not entirely a bad thing as I am learning a lot from this contest. Like what you ask? I think that will be the theme for this week - lessons learned from a writing contest. Today I learned the importance of structure.
A few of the judges commented that the poems and stories grabbed them from the beginning and held them until the end. The author provided the answers to questions at the right moment and the pace for both poems and stories were very good. When the pace is moving at the right speed and the author provides information to the reader at timely points along the way that is structure. A well structured story will enhance the reader's senses and make them feel the story.
This is one of the reasons why back story can be hazardous to your manuscript. Back story impacts the structure of the entire manuscript. One of the great things about these short stories is the lack of back story which makes them the prime example of structure. Ironically I have witnessed this in my manuscript as well. I have pulled out the back story. In the process of restructuring my novel I plan in incorporate some of the back story back into it.
Structure is important to the pace and the action of the story. Have you ever read a story that had a build up to an action scene but turned out to be a major let down after you read that scene? I believe there was a structure problem within that portion of the story. Maybe the author inserted some back story at the wrong time or inserted a smaller scene that took away from the build up. No matter what the reason, the structure was impacted and it changed how we felt about the story.
I could tell something was wrong with my novel and I think I found the solution by restructuring it. Do you feel like something is just not working with your story? Maybe some restructuring would fix that. I believe that the structure of our manuscript should be something we always keep in mind.
Have you ever had problems with structure? How did you fix it?
As you may have guessed, I plan to tie in the contest with the articles this week. This is not entirely a bad thing as I am learning a lot from this contest. Like what you ask? I think that will be the theme for this week - lessons learned from a writing contest. Today I learned the importance of structure.
A few of the judges commented that the poems and stories grabbed them from the beginning and held them until the end. The author provided the answers to questions at the right moment and the pace for both poems and stories were very good. When the pace is moving at the right speed and the author provides information to the reader at timely points along the way that is structure. A well structured story will enhance the reader's senses and make them feel the story.
This is one of the reasons why back story can be hazardous to your manuscript. Back story impacts the structure of the entire manuscript. One of the great things about these short stories is the lack of back story which makes them the prime example of structure. Ironically I have witnessed this in my manuscript as well. I have pulled out the back story. In the process of restructuring my novel I plan in incorporate some of the back story back into it.
Structure is important to the pace and the action of the story. Have you ever read a story that had a build up to an action scene but turned out to be a major let down after you read that scene? I believe there was a structure problem within that portion of the story. Maybe the author inserted some back story at the wrong time or inserted a smaller scene that took away from the build up. No matter what the reason, the structure was impacted and it changed how we felt about the story.
I could tell something was wrong with my novel and I think I found the solution by restructuring it. Do you feel like something is just not working with your story? Maybe some restructuring would fix that. I believe that the structure of our manuscript should be something we always keep in mind.
Have you ever had problems with structure? How did you fix it?
Apr 13, 2009
CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT!!
Unfortunately it has been brought to my attention that the polls may not be accurately depicting the actual vote. In an effort to maintain the integrity of this contest I am suspending all voting. I have devised a new method to determine the winner as follows:
I have selected a panel of judges to determine the winner for the best short story and best poem. These judges have been hand picked by me and notified by e-mail. The judges will remain anonymous and will cast their vote by e-mail to me. I will announce the winner on Friday.
I feel that this is the best way to determine the winner of this contest based upon the merit of these stories and the poems. I still believe that this contest has been successful and that everyone is having fun reading these great pieces. However, this change is intended to develop a level and fair playing field for all the finalist.
I apologize for the inconvenience.
I have selected a panel of judges to determine the winner for the best short story and best poem. These judges have been hand picked by me and notified by e-mail. The judges will remain anonymous and will cast their vote by e-mail to me. I will announce the winner on Friday.
I feel that this is the best way to determine the winner of this contest based upon the merit of these stories and the poems. I still believe that this contest has been successful and that everyone is having fun reading these great pieces. However, this change is intended to develop a level and fair playing field for all the finalist.
I apologize for the inconvenience.
Apr 10, 2009
LET THE VOTING BEGIN!!
The polls are open! Vote early and vote often. The polls will remain open until 10:00 PM on Thursday. The winner for best short story and best poem will be announced on Friday the 16th. Good luck to all the finalist and feel free too use the comment section for this article to campaign for votes.
Also, since this is Friday we will have our week end review. If you missed any of the articles this week here is a summary of the activities.
Monday we reviewed how the short stories and the poems from our finalist would be posted here on the New Author. The example piece used in this article was a working project of mine. Contest and winner also included the winner of the M.L. St. Sure interview contest. I invite you to read this article and my working piece.
Island of the middle ground was Tuesday's article. Jammed in between all the excitement with the contest is this interesting article. We looked at the topic of when advice turns into opinion. We discovered that while we write we must remain flexible as we search for that island in the midst of too much detail and too little. The comments for this article are outstanding and I recommend that you read them with the article.
Wednesday, Thursday and today we had the enjoyment of reading the poetry and short stories of our finalist. The works of our finalist were posted in three parts - Part I Part II and Part III. We can get a sense of the excitement from the comments of Part I. I encourage all of you to read the stories and poems from our finalist. Don't forget to vote for your favorite poem and short story.
As we approach the weekend it is time for a little something too think about. Which is your favorite short story and poem?
Have a good weekend and happy writing.
Also, since this is Friday we will have our week end review. If you missed any of the articles this week here is a summary of the activities.
Monday we reviewed how the short stories and the poems from our finalist would be posted here on the New Author. The example piece used in this article was a working project of mine. Contest and winner also included the winner of the M.L. St. Sure interview contest. I invite you to read this article and my working piece.
Island of the middle ground was Tuesday's article. Jammed in between all the excitement with the contest is this interesting article. We looked at the topic of when advice turns into opinion. We discovered that while we write we must remain flexible as we search for that island in the midst of too much detail and too little. The comments for this article are outstanding and I recommend that you read them with the article.
Wednesday, Thursday and today we had the enjoyment of reading the poetry and short stories of our finalist. The works of our finalist were posted in three parts - Part I Part II and Part III. We can get a sense of the excitement from the comments of Part I. I encourage all of you to read the stories and poems from our finalist. Don't forget to vote for your favorite poem and short story.
As we approach the weekend it is time for a little something too think about. Which is your favorite short story and poem?
Have a good weekend and happy writing.
Writing Contest Finalist Part III
Today is the day! Tell all your friends and read all the poems and short stories because at three o'clock we will begin the voting. The polls will be open until Thursday of next week with the winners named on Friday the 24th! I encourage everyone too vote. The bigger the vote the more excitement and fun we will all have.
We have read the poems and short stories from eight of the finalist. We have two more finalists to read. Now bring on those stories!
Remember, the voting starts at 3:00 today!
We have read the poems and short stories from eight of the finalist. We have two more finalists to read. Now bring on those stories!
Remember, the voting starts at 3:00 today!
Apr 9, 2009
Writing Contest Finalist Part II
Today we continue our reading of the poems and short stories from the finalist of the first annual New Author Writing Contest. However, before we get to the fun, I have a few announcements. As you know I narrowed the field to the top five poems and the top five short stories which we are reading now. Promptly after I post the last three entries tomorrow I will open the polls for you to begin voting. The short story and the poem with the most votes will win. That is correct; we will have a winner for best short story and winner for best poem. The best thing is that you will decide the winner. Now to the finalist!
Tomorrow we will read the work of the last two finalist and then we start the voting!
Tomorrow we will read the work of the last two finalist and then we start the voting!
Apr 8, 2009
Writing Contest Finalist
The long wait has come to an end. The anticipation has built into a rabid frenzy and the air is full of electricity. Now is the time, ladies and gentlemen, for the curtains to part and the entertainment to start. Below you will find the first group of short stories and poems. These poems and short stories are picked randomly for your reading enjoyment.
I hope you enjoy reading the poems and short story from our finalist. Tomorrow the fun continues as we read more from our finalist.
I hope you enjoy reading the poems and short story from our finalist. Tomorrow the fun continues as we read more from our finalist.
Apr 7, 2009
The Island of the Middle Ground
To the right of this article you will notice the list of our finalist for the first annual New Author Writing Contest. I believe we should take a moment and congratulate these individuals for making it to the next round. Tomorrow I will begin posting the poems and short stories. I encourage you to read all the poems and short stories because shortly after I post all of them I will open the polls for voting. You, the New Author community, will decide who the winners are for best short story and best poem. I can already feel the excitement building. I truly believe you will find voting for one short story and one poem a difficult decision.
As the anticipation builds for the start of tomorrow's postings I have another topic I think we should look at. In the past month I have allowed my novel to cool off before my first round of editing. In that time I have been doing a large amount of reading in which a question was raised. At what time does advise or rule of thumb cross the line and become opinion?
For example, if you write with great detail and some one reads your piece is it their opinion that you are telling instead of showing or is that the danger of writing with great detail? Why bring this up? I recently read a book that left me feeling like I was being told instead of shown what was happening. The author writes with a great amount of detail. In my opinion it is that large amount of detail that made me feel this way.
However, what if your writing style is more simplistic? Many authors do not write with a lot of detail; just enough to get by. If some one reads this style of writing is it their opinion that we are not providing enough depth to the setting and/or characters or is this a sign that we must cultivate our writing style more?
I believe there is a middle ground between the two and that middle ground is what we search for. Unfortunately for us, new authors, that middle ground is more like a small island in an ocean of simple writing or telling instead of showing. As we develop and become established authors that island grows and we are given more freedom with our writing style.
When does a rule of thumb or advice cross the line and become opinion? Everyone will have a different answer for this question. There is great advice to be had in this world about writing and there are sure fire rules of thumb; however, when it comes to writing styles things are a little different. I really don't believe a person can tell you how you should write. The key here is balance. If you enjoy writing with a great amount of detail you may need to compromise some in order to find that island. The same is true if you enjoy writing in a simplistic manner.
Until we find that island we should be flexible. We should be able to bend and flow without giving up our style until we find the island of the middle ground. How do you know when you have found it? When you are thrilled about your writing and have a positive feeling about it in the pit of your stomach is part one. Part two is when people read your story and feel the same thing.
Have you found the island of the middle ground? I hear it is very nice there this time of year. Have you ever received advice and wondered if it was opinion?
As the anticipation builds for the start of tomorrow's postings I have another topic I think we should look at. In the past month I have allowed my novel to cool off before my first round of editing. In that time I have been doing a large amount of reading in which a question was raised. At what time does advise or rule of thumb cross the line and become opinion?
For example, if you write with great detail and some one reads your piece is it their opinion that you are telling instead of showing or is that the danger of writing with great detail? Why bring this up? I recently read a book that left me feeling like I was being told instead of shown what was happening. The author writes with a great amount of detail. In my opinion it is that large amount of detail that made me feel this way.
However, what if your writing style is more simplistic? Many authors do not write with a lot of detail; just enough to get by. If some one reads this style of writing is it their opinion that we are not providing enough depth to the setting and/or characters or is this a sign that we must cultivate our writing style more?
I believe there is a middle ground between the two and that middle ground is what we search for. Unfortunately for us, new authors, that middle ground is more like a small island in an ocean of simple writing or telling instead of showing. As we develop and become established authors that island grows and we are given more freedom with our writing style.
When does a rule of thumb or advice cross the line and become opinion? Everyone will have a different answer for this question. There is great advice to be had in this world about writing and there are sure fire rules of thumb; however, when it comes to writing styles things are a little different. I really don't believe a person can tell you how you should write. The key here is balance. If you enjoy writing with a great amount of detail you may need to compromise some in order to find that island. The same is true if you enjoy writing in a simplistic manner.
Until we find that island we should be flexible. We should be able to bend and flow without giving up our style until we find the island of the middle ground. How do you know when you have found it? When you are thrilled about your writing and have a positive feeling about it in the pit of your stomach is part one. Part two is when people read your story and feel the same thing.
Have you found the island of the middle ground? I hear it is very nice there this time of year. Have you ever received advice and wondered if it was opinion?
Apr 6, 2009
Contest and Winner
I had the joy and honor of reading all the submissions to the first annual New Author Writing Contest this weekend. There were a total of twenty submissions to this year's contest. Let's give everyone a big hand for that. I can honestly tell you that it was very difficult to narrow the field down to five short stories and five poems. After enlisting my wife for assistance we managed to do just that. Actually, one of the short stories moved her to tears. That's how good these submissions were.
So, now that we have the top five short stories and the top five poems what do we do? This is where my experiment comes into play. I found a website that allows you to publish your work on the Internet and embed it into a website or blog. I plan to use this site to embed the short stories and poems on the New Author. This will allow you to print the story, zoom in on it, and read at your leisure. For this experiment I converted one of my working projects. "Sanctuary Lost," began as a short story but I plan to expand it into a novel. It is currently seventeen pages which made this piece a good choice for this experiment.
Now it is up to all of you here in the New Author community. Please take a moment and use the embedded link to read "Sanctuary Lost." I encourage you to give me feedback about this embedded site as I plan to post the short stories and poems in like manner. Feel free to comment on the story as well. If you find that the site is not user friendly or the story is difficult to read from the site then I will think of another method to post the submissions. We all know the KISS rule and I plan on using it here.
Last, but not least, is the announcement of the M.L. St. Sure Interview contest winner. Drum roll please....the winner is.... ERIC!! I will notify Eric shortly about his prize.
Below you will find "Sanctuary Lost." Am I nervous about posting some of my work here? Yes I am but this will take care of two things at one time. One, it gives all of you an example and the opportunity to get familiar with the embedded site. Two, it exposes a sample of my writing to the New Author community.
So, now that we have the top five short stories and the top five poems what do we do? This is where my experiment comes into play. I found a website that allows you to publish your work on the Internet and embed it into a website or blog. I plan to use this site to embed the short stories and poems on the New Author. This will allow you to print the story, zoom in on it, and read at your leisure. For this experiment I converted one of my working projects. "Sanctuary Lost," began as a short story but I plan to expand it into a novel. It is currently seventeen pages which made this piece a good choice for this experiment.
Now it is up to all of you here in the New Author community. Please take a moment and use the embedded link to read "Sanctuary Lost." I encourage you to give me feedback about this embedded site as I plan to post the short stories and poems in like manner. Feel free to comment on the story as well. If you find that the site is not user friendly or the story is difficult to read from the site then I will think of another method to post the submissions. We all know the KISS rule and I plan on using it here.
Last, but not least, is the announcement of the M.L. St. Sure Interview contest winner. Drum roll please....the winner is.... ERIC!! I will notify Eric shortly about his prize.
Below you will find "Sanctuary Lost." Am I nervous about posting some of my work here? Yes I am but this will take care of two things at one time. One, it gives all of you an example and the opportunity to get familiar with the embedded site. Two, it exposes a sample of my writing to the New Author community.
Apr 3, 2009
Week End Review
This week was a fast paced free for all. I am sure many of you can agree that it feels good knowing we will end the work week soon. Did you miss anything on the New Author this week? It may look as if this was a normal run of the mill week here but looks can be deceiving. Let's take a look at this week's articles.
Guest blog your way to more readers and exposure got the week rolling. Brian from EazyCheezy stopped by and delivered this article about branching out and meeting others by way of guest blogging. His challenge is a good one that will help each of us expand and grow our networks and friendships. Thanks go out to Brian for this informative and well written piece.
Tuesday was packed full of activity. First we were introduced to the next New Author interview. Then, in an effort to introduce something new to the New Author, I posted a book review for the author's debut novel. I believe book reviews give a new dimension to the authors we interview and read about. Stay tuned for more book reviews. I encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions about the book review. The big news about Tuesday was the deadline of the first annual New Author Writing Contest. I would like to thank all of you who entered. I was very pleased and surprised by the number of short stories and poems I received. I look forward to reading all of them and will get started this weekend.
Wednesday and Thursday we were entertained by Part I and Part II of M.L. St. Sure's interview. She graciously shared insight to the book and her motivations to write. I encourage you to read this interview. It does shine a bright light on her book but there is information between the lines that we could all use and learn from. I would like to thank M.L. St. Sure for her time in supplying these thought out responses. Also, as I mentioned yesterday, I will hold the drawing for a free copy of St. Sure's book "Evensong" on Monday. Everyone who comments on the interview and/or the book review will be entered.
What will next week bring to the New Author? I will be conducting an experiment next week that will call for your help. I will post one of my working stories in a program linked to the New Author for you to read. If you enjoy the layout and can read the text easily then I will post all the short stories that make it to voting in the contest in the same fashion. Also, next week I plan to post some interesting articles about our favorite topic....writing!
Now for something to think about on this Friday evening; what would you rather do....blog with your friends or write a difficult section of your manuscript? Why?
Have a good weekend and happy writing.
Guest blog your way to more readers and exposure got the week rolling. Brian from EazyCheezy stopped by and delivered this article about branching out and meeting others by way of guest blogging. His challenge is a good one that will help each of us expand and grow our networks and friendships. Thanks go out to Brian for this informative and well written piece.
Tuesday was packed full of activity. First we were introduced to the next New Author interview. Then, in an effort to introduce something new to the New Author, I posted a book review for the author's debut novel. I believe book reviews give a new dimension to the authors we interview and read about. Stay tuned for more book reviews. I encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions about the book review. The big news about Tuesday was the deadline of the first annual New Author Writing Contest. I would like to thank all of you who entered. I was very pleased and surprised by the number of short stories and poems I received. I look forward to reading all of them and will get started this weekend.
Wednesday and Thursday we were entertained by Part I and Part II of M.L. St. Sure's interview. She graciously shared insight to the book and her motivations to write. I encourage you to read this interview. It does shine a bright light on her book but there is information between the lines that we could all use and learn from. I would like to thank M.L. St. Sure for her time in supplying these thought out responses. Also, as I mentioned yesterday, I will hold the drawing for a free copy of St. Sure's book "Evensong" on Monday. Everyone who comments on the interview and/or the book review will be entered.
What will next week bring to the New Author? I will be conducting an experiment next week that will call for your help. I will post one of my working stories in a program linked to the New Author for you to read. If you enjoy the layout and can read the text easily then I will post all the short stories that make it to voting in the contest in the same fashion. Also, next week I plan to post some interesting articles about our favorite topic....writing!
Now for something to think about on this Friday evening; what would you rather do....blog with your friends or write a difficult section of your manuscript? Why?
Have a good weekend and happy writing.
Apr 2, 2009
M.L. St. Sure Interview Part II
This is Part II of my interview with author M.L. St. Sure. Before I get to the interview questions I would like to announce that I have decided to announce the winner of the interview contest on Monday. That way everyone has plenty of time to read and enter. You can also find this interview at Premium Promotional Services and Conquer All Obstacles. With that said, back to the questions (M.L. St. Sure's response in bold).Christina grows to adulthood during a very difficult period of time. What advice would she offer to the children of today who are becoming adults?
Christina challenges us to think through what so many might call a "no brainier" situation. Of course one wants better for the family. Of course one should jump up and meet the challenge, taking a proactive role and doing something. Of course, perhaps the fault lies with us for being compliant, not making our voices heard, and marching meekly to the orders of destruction. Fear is an awful thing and bravery is rare.
The cover of Evensong has a soothing relaxing feel; whereas, the story is neither soothing nor relaxed. Can you tell us about the cover and how it relates to the story?
I wanted to show the innocent victims of war and their resilience, where even smelling a flower can bring joy in the worst of situations.
Evensong is your debut novel. What was the most challenging aspect of getting your book published?
Working every single day for a solid year to put my book out there. It was more difficult than writing it!
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
I swear, if you are not obsessive/compulsive you will not get it done.
Did marketing and promoting "Evensong" meet your expectations?
Yes, definitely. My book is out there.
What can we look forward to in the future from M.L. St. Sure?
Believe it or not, there is a sequel. That should surprise a lot of my readers!
Would you like to include any final thoughts today?
Yes. I would like to thank you, Brian for rolling up your sleeves and working so hard. Who we really are and what we are made of usually doesn't materialize until the job is done. And I can say that you have been remarkable.
This concludes my interview with M.L. St. Sure. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed conducting it. You can purchase "Evensong" from the New Author Bookstore or HERE.
Remember, when you leave a comment you are entered to win a copy of this fantastic novel - "Evensong."
Apr 1, 2009
M.L. St. Sure Interview Part I
This is Part I of my interview with M.L. St. Sure. You can also find this interview at Premium Promotional Services and Conquer All Obstacles. Now for the fun part; everyone who comments on this interview (both today and tomorrow) will be entered into a drawing for a free copy of "Evensong." With that said, bring on the interview questions (St. Sure's response in bold).Evensong is an interesting title which has a meaning. I have read the meaning of Evensong but for our readers could you explain the meaning of Evensong?
In the New Testament, a brief hymn of praise sung by the aged Simeon, who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Simeon was at the Temple in Jerusalem when Mary and Joseph came to present the infant Jesus for the rite of purification according to Jewish law and custom. Simeon recognized the baby as the promised Saviour, took him in his arms, and raised his hymn of praise. Found in Luke 2:29-32, it is called the Nunc Dimittis for its first words in the Latin of the Vulgate Bible: Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum, in pace, "Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised." Because of its implications of fulfillment, peace, and rest, the early church viewed it as appropriate for the ending of the day. Since the 4th century it has been used in such evening worship services as Compline, Vespers, and Evensong. My book EVENSONG based its ending on this definition and therefore, the title.
You have so many wonderful characters in Evensong. One of which is Christina Cross. Can you tell us about her?
Christina Cross is a spirited young woman who knows there is something better for her family than the harsh farmland in Kelly Flat, Missouri. She yearns to unlock the secrets of her father's military past, to know about the possible, to break out of her cocoon and emerge to live life. She is strong, devoted and loyal.
Speaking of wonderful characters; we cannot forget Christina's little sister Nicolette. She is the perfect example of childhood innocence in the midst of war. Can you tell us more about the little girl?
Nicolette is an innocent bystander with all that happens in her life. As with most young children, they take the best that life has to offer and then run with it. Harsh realities, the cost of war, the miserable existence, all of it rolls into optimism.
War is a cruel and violent experience for all involved. In Evensong you were able to walk the fine line between giving enough information about the horrors of war and too much. Was it difficult to capture the reality of war without crossing that line?
The war journal my father left me was horrific. I knew I had to soften that line, and it was difficult because I wanted to blurt out the whole ugly story.
You dedicated Evensong to your father. Did his experience during World War II influence your writing of Evensong?
My Dad was in the Marines during World War II. As a child I questioned him many times about his shiny medals, photographs, letters and postcards to my Mom; things about the war. It seemed the more I pressed him for answers, the more reticent he became. By the time I was eight years old I was writing war stories in the closet where my Dad's uniform hung. I became obsessed with writing. One day I mailed a story to the Oakland Tribune, and it was published the next weekend in the "Aunt Elsie" column. Well, that did it for me. I was a PUBLISHED author! I was born and raised in Berkeley, California, and a few years later, I entered college and majored in English. I was still writing stories in my free time. A friend of mine who was editing for me, suggested I attend the Iowa Writer's Workshop in Iowa City, Iowa. So off I went to write more stories, and I absolutely loved it! I had just finished a summer session when I received a phone call from my Mom. She said my Dad had just passed away from an aneurysm. I was devastated. My chance to know him was over. A few months later, a package arrived in the mail. I opened it, and wrapped in old newspapers were my Dad's war journals. What a day that was for me. Though by the time I began reading them, I soon understood why he never spoke of the war. It took me a long time to absorb, to rethink, rehash everything that had happened to him. I really took it hard. My husband, Ken and my daughters encouraged me to write his story; that it would be therapeutic. So I began writing, and I could tell with each page I finished I was beginning to come to terms with my grief. By the time I was finished, I was healed. My book EVENSONG is dedicated to my Dad.
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